AN Oldham man who launched a racist tirade of abuse at a neighbour and threatened him with knives has been jailed.

Paul Jackson had repeated spats with another resident of Richmond Walk in the town and had previously been convicted of similar offences against him.

Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard matters escalated in August last year and Jackson came out “dressed like something from an action film” with two silver fifteen inch blades.

He appeared in court to be sentenced for racial abuse and possession of offensive weapons after confessing at an earlier date.

He breached a previous bail condition not to attend at his address so appeared on court from a video link to HMP Forest Bank.

Prosecutor Kate Hammond revealed what happened on that date.

She said the neighbour has been outside having a cigarette with a friend when Jackson began staring at them from 20 yards away and he the used racial epithets relating to the man’s Pakistani origin.

She said Jackson came out with a wooden stick and said “come over here where there is no CCTV.”

He shouted for around twenty minutes then went back into his home and the two men thought the situation had ended .

But after this he came back to the garden and repeated his racist words and said “I will beat you in the head.”

Again the two men thought the incident had passed when Jackson went back into his home.

The prosecutor went on to say: “The next thing Mr Jackson emerged from his property, described as dressed like something from an action film.

“He had two long kitchen knives described as very long silver blades.”

A takeaway driver had to be told to leave the area and police were called.

When officers arrived he went back into his home and a stand off emerged for about 20 minutes before he was detained.

The court heard Jackson had an offence for possession of an offensive weapon in 2016 which related to the neighbour.”

Representing the 45-year-old, defence counsel Andrew Marsh said his client had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity and had made plans to sell the property and move away from the area.

He also said the behaviour was out of character despite the previous convictions.

Judge John Edwards said there was no alternative to custody.

He said: “You are 45 years of age, it is time to be a father to your three children.

“I very much hope that that is going to happen.

“I am afraid it is not going to happen for several months.

“Mr Marsh has said everything that could have been said on your behalf.

“Your previous convictions display a worrying pattern of behaviour which has been repeated and it is a real concern to me.”

He jailed him for 20 months.